| Matthew Dalton | |
| Birth Date: | 1998 11, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Northern Ireland |
| Weight: | 118kg (260lb) |
| Ru Position: | Lock, Flanker |
| Amatyears1: | 20??– |
| Amatteam1: | Malone |
| Years1: | 2017–2019 |
| Clubs1: | Ulster |
| Apps1: | 10 |
| Points1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021 |
| Clubs2: | Utah Warriors |
| Apps2: | 0 |
| Points2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs3: | Newcastle Falcons |
| Apps3: | 0 |
| Points3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2023- |
| Clubs4: | Soyaux Angoulême |
| Apps4: | 17 |
| Points4: | 5 |
| Ru Clubupdate: | 12 August 2024 |
| Repyears1: | 2018 |
| Repteam1: | Ireland U20 |
| Repcaps1: | 5 |
| Reppoints1: | 5 |
| Ru Ntupdate: | 12 June 2018 |
| School: | Belfast Royal Academy |
Matthew Dalton (born 16 November 1998) is an Irish rugby union player. He formerly played for Newcastle Falcons (2021-23) and Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster. He plays primarily as a lock, but can also play as a flanker, and represented Malone in the All-Ireland League.
Dalton attended Belfast Royal Academy and, before committing to rugby, he excelled at association football and athletics, particularly the pentathlon.[1] He helped the school to the semi-finals of the 2016 Ulster Schools' Cup, where they lost to Royal Belfast Academical Institution,[2] as well as earning representation for Ulster at under-17, under-18 and under-18 level and Ireland at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level.[3]
Dalton made his senior competitive debut for Ulster in their 23–22 win against Italian side Benetton in round 9 of the 2017–18 Pro14 on 24 November 2017.[4] [5]
Dalton signed for the Utah Warriors ahead of the 2021 Major League Rugby season.[6]
On 22 June 2021, Dalton returns to the UK to join English side Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby on a two-year deal from the 2021-22 season.[7]
Dalton was selected for the Ireland under-20's squad for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[8] and made his debut for the side in their opening round 34–24 defeat against France on 2 February 2018,[9] before going on to start against Scotland[10] and England.[11] Dalton was also selected in the under-20s squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,[12] starting against Georgia[13] and Scotland.[14]